Kim Hye-sun is no stranger to setting records, yet at Busan on Sunday afternoon, the jockey they call “Super Peanut” turned heads again, riding the winner in all three of the International Trophy Exchange races at the southern track.
None were favourite. Things kicked off in race 4, the Selangor Turf Club Trophy. Seungni Magicqueen was sent off as the favourite, but it became apparent she wasn’t traveling smoothly on the turn for home and it was Kim Hye-sun on 4/1 chance Unju Eutteum (by Distorted Humor) who capitalized, going on to score by five-lengths with Seungni Magicqueen finishing in 3rd behind stablemate Alpha Star.
Next up was the China Horse Industry Association over 1400M. Copy That and Franco Da Silva were sent off as odds-on favourites but after showing near the front early, they didn’t threaten, and Ilnyeom Tongcheon (by Old Fashioned) came through under Kim Hye-sun to win by a full four-lengths.
The final race on the program was the Tokyo City Keiba Trophy, which being over 1800M and restricted to fillies and mares, only attracted a field of eight. Among them though, was established class 2 winner Queen Of The World, who was accordingly sent off a slight odds-on favourite.
Queen Of The World dipped when coming out of the gates and while she quickly made her way to the front, she was never convincing. Kim Hye-sun and Burning Party (by Bodemeister) took the lead on the final turn and never relinquished it, coming home three-lengths on front of runner-up Adele Pupil, with Queen Of The World in 3rd.
Having long since ridden the most winners of any female jockey in Korea, as well as being the first woman to ride a Korean Classic winner in the 2017 Oaks, Kim Hye-sun returned to race riding last year, ten months after giving birth to her son, and now lies 3rd in the Busan Jockey’s Premiership. She is a serious contender for the title.
There were also two Trophy races at Seoul. The Jockey Club of Turkey Trophy was won by favourite Spot Flatter (by Cowbow Cal), who sat handy to the lead under jockey Ham Wan-sik before running on for a commanding three-length win.
The final big race of the day was the Gold Circle (South Africa) Trophy, a filly and mare test over 1800M. While Saryeoni Queen, an established class 2 campaigner, was sent off as favourite, she failed to fire, and it was left to the four-year-olds from last year’s Filly Triple Crown trail to contest the top honours.
Queens Tour, a 6/1 chance, ran out the winner beating Rubicon by just under a length with Gyeonggi Governor’s Cup winner Eodigana a further five back in 3rd. Queens Tour was a first big race winner for jockey Jo Sang-beom.
English Race Videos:
SLTC Trophy: https://youtu.be/yWvkMl9NOCw
CHIA Trophy: https://youtu.be/XgXpOubFGaE
TCK Trophy: https://youtu.be/tfkvOItVjps
TJK Trophy: https://youtu.be/3GGqwqCKYHU
Gold Circle Trophy: https://youtu.be/1IEskEnsRMU